Freedom of information response

1. Did your Local Authority alter or update its visitor policy for care homes in response to Covid-19, yes or no?

Yes

a. If yes, what changes were introduced?

Changes were put in place in accordance with Government Policy restricting visitors.

b. If yes, are any of those policies still in place?

No policy but updated guidance in accordance with: Supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care (2023)

i. If yes, which of those policies are still in place?

Not policy but guidance in accordance with the Supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care if a resident of a care home has a positive test:

• stay away from others for a minimum of 5 days after the day they took the test
• access appropriate treatments as quickly as possible if they are eligible – refer to the section on GOV.UK: COVID-19 treatments for people at higher risk of severe outcomes
• receive at least one visitor at a time with appropriate IPC precautions; one visitor at a time per resident should always be able to visit inside the care home – this number can be flexible in the case that the visitor requires accompaniment (for example if they require support, or for a parent accompanying a child); this does not include visiting professionals – visitors should be advised before seeing a resident that they have had a positive test and are advised to stay away from others; this can be done by the resident or by the care home if they are not able to do this
• go into outdoor spaces within the care home grounds through a route where they are not in contact with other residents
• avoid contact with other people who are eligible for COVID-19 treatments for 10 days after a positive test

In accordance with the Supplement to the infection prevention and control resource for adult social care if an outbreak is confirmed:

“proportionate changes to visiting. Some forms of visiting should continue for all residents. One visitor at a time per resident should always be able to visit inside the care home. This number can be flexible in the case that the visitor requires accompaniment (for example if they require support, or for a parent accompanying a child). End-of-life visiting should always be supported. There should be no restrictions on visits out for individuals who are not positive or symptomatic”

2. Does the Local Authority currently have any visitation policies for care homes that:

a. Would prevent a resident from receiving a visitor?

No however the above guidance remains.

i. If yes, in what circumstances does this apply?

The guidance for residents who test positive or outbreaks remains.

ii. If yes, were these restrictions in place before March 2020?

No

b. Set a restriction on the number of different people able to visit a care home resident during their stay

No unless the above applies in relation to guidance for a positive resident test or outbreak.

i. If yes, in what circumstances would the number of different people visiting a care home resident be restricted?

Restrictions to visitors may be put in place by the home having completed a risk assessment in line with the aforementioned guidance. See above regarding resident positive test or outbreak.

ii. If yes, how many different people do these restrictions permit as visitors?

This would be based on the risk assessment of the home, the needs of the resident, the number of positive cases and would be assessed on an individual basis.

iii. If yes, were these restrictions in place before March 2020?

No however there has always been access to infection prevention and control guidance for outbreaks of disease or illness in care homes.

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